GeoFroggy

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Background

The islands of Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Some 3,000 refugees fleeing a volcanic eruption on nearby Montserrat have settled in Antigua and Barbuda since 1995.

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Area Comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 NM

Continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

Territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate

Tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Natural Hazards

Hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

Environment Current Issues

Water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Central America and the Caribbean

Irrigated Land

NA sq km

Area 2001

Total

442 sq km
Land

442 sq km
Water

0 sq km

Coastline

153 km

Geographical Coordinates

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Land use 2001

Arable Land
18%
Permanent Crops
0%
Permanent Pastures
9%
Forests And Woodland
11%
Other
62%

Terrain

Mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands
With some higher volcanic areas

Elevation

Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest Point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Land Boundaries

0 km

Natural Resources

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Antigua and Barbuda